Some major air pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfer dioxide.
- Carbon monoxide also known as CO is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas. Sources of CO are cars, trucks, buses, small engines, and some industrial processes. Cigarette smoke and forest fires are also sources of CO. Some effects CO could have is on humans. They interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. They also slows your reflexes and causes drowsiness. In high concentration CO can cause death.
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- Nitrogen oxide is a combination of nitrogen and oxygen during combustion (burning). Many nitrogen oxides are colorless and odorless gases. Nitrogen oxide comes from burning fuels in motor vehicles, power plants, industrial boilers and other industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels. Nitrogen oxide can make the body vulnerable to respiratory infections, lung disease, and possibly cancer.
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- Sulfur dioxide is a gas produced by chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen. Sulfur dioxide comes largely from burning fossil fuels (gasoline, oil, natural gas). It is released from petroleum refineries, paper mills, chemical and coalburning power plants. It is easily dissolved in water and forms an acid which contributes to acid rain. Lakes, forests, metals, and stone can be damaged by acid rain.
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